Downplaying and trivializing violence by fathers is common in the media and the courts.
Sorry, leaving blood on the pants of your child isn't a "paddling" or a "spanking." It's an assault.
Oh, yea, it's not "neglect" either. That's when you "forgot" to feed your kid or didn't clean the dog crap off the floor.
Dad is identified as LAVERN FLYNN. No mention of a mother in the home.
http://wreg.com/2013/10/20/father-facing-abuse-charges-after-paddling-son/
Father Facing Abuse Charges After Paddling Son
Posted on: 9:59 pm, October 20, 2013, by Matt Peace, updated on: 11:32pm, October 20, 2013
(Memphis) A Memphis father is in jail on child abuse charges after police say he went too far while disciplining his son.
57-year-old Lavern Flynn admits to hitting his son with a wooden paddle after the child hid school progress reports and lied about it.
An employee at a local elementary school called police after seeing the child with a busted lip, swollen eye and blood on the back of his pants.
Flynn is charged with two counts of child abuse and neglect. He will face a judge on Monday.